Universal joint.



J. R. PLANK UNIVERSAL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 'FEB. 17. 1914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

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J. RAYMOND PLA NK, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 2?, 1915.

Application filed February 17, 1914. Serial No. 819,183.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. RAYMOND PLANE,

a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Joints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in universal joints, and its object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple and strong. in construction, easily assembled ordisassembled without any use of tools; to provide simple and effective means for lubrication, and to provide the devicewith various novel features of construction and arrangement as hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention consists essentially of two similar jaws each having an arc shaped groove the axis of which lies in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation of the jaw and of more than one hundred and eighty degrees in length, whereby the open ends of the grooves are spaced j apart less than twice the radius of the grooves, and a center or connecting member having areshaped ribs in planes at right angles to each other to fit slidably in said grooves, said ribs being more than a half circle in length and each rib being adapted to readily enter a groove when inserted one end first and retained by the jaw when in working position therein.

It further consists of means for effectually lubricating the device when in operation.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the device; Fig. 2 is an axial section of the same, showing the jaws angularly arranged; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the jaws; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the center Like numbers refer to like parts in all of r the figures.

The center block 1 is an integral member consisting of substantially two intersecting disks arranged in planes" at right angles and preferably having a common center. Each disk is reduced at one side leaving the greater portion thereof, the margin of which forms an arc-shaped rib of more than a semicircle and of substantially the same dimensions as the groove in a jaw, and adapted to enter and slidably fit within the same. The jaws 2 are duplicates except that one is preferably provided with a round socket .3 having a keyway and adapted to receive a shaft, while the opposite jaw is provided with a squared socket 4: to slidably receive the end of. another shaft. Each jaw is provided with an arc-shaped groove 5 greater than a semi-circle which groove receives one arc-shaped margin or rib of the center block, and thesaid jaw is assembled upon theblock by turning'thesame to such an angle relative to the same that 'one end of the rib will first enter the groove and the converging tips of the jaws will pass the narrowed width of the ribs of said disk. The jaw is then turned approximately in line with the axis of rotation and will be retained upon the block by the converging tips of the jaws which extend beyond the greatest diameter of the disk. The proportions of the different parts are such that the jaws will be retained upon the center block in any angle out of alinement that it is practicable to operate the joint, it being necessary to turn the jaws out of alinement to a considerable angle before they can be attached to or detached from the center block. The are of the jaws and ribs should be as great as possible and permit the as sembly of the parts as described.

An oil chamber 7 is provided in the bot tom of the groove 5 of each jaw, and these chambers also extend into the grooves opposite the bearing surfaces of the center block 1, and these bearing surfaces are provided with arc-shaped oil grooves 8, thoseon 0pposite sides of each disk being joined by holes 9 through the disk, said holes being preferably diametrically opposite. The jaws 2 are long enough so that when the device is in operation the said holes and oil grooves will never be uncovered by the jaws.

The oil chambers 7 may be filled with either a hard grease or porous material,

such as wicking, soaked in oil, and when the device is in operation the lubricant will be transmitted to the grooves 8 and jwill flow by centrifugal force to the greatest diameter of the grooves in the jaws and be retained within the grooves. As the tips of the jaws project beyond the greatest diameter and converge, an oil pocket is thus formed, which prevents the lubricant being thrown from the joint by centrifugal force. Any inequality of lubricant upon opposite sides of the disk will be equalized by means of the holes 9, which permit the lubricant to flow from one side of the disk to the other.

From the foregoing, the operation and advantages of the device are obvious without further description.

'What I claim is 1. A universal joint, comprising a center block having two are shaped ribs arranged in planes at right angles to each other, each rib being more than a semi-circle in length, and two jaws each having an arcshaped groove greater than a semi-circle to receive one of the respective ribs.

2. A universal joint, comprising a centerblock having two intersecting are shaped ribs of more than 180 degrees long, and arranged in planes at right angles to each other, two jaws each of which has an areshaped groove of more than 180 degrees to receive the margin of the respective disk and means 1n said jaws for supplying lubricant to the bearing surfaces of the jaws and center block.

block having two are shaped ribs of more than semi-circular length arranged in planes at right angles to each other, and two jaws each having an. arc-shaped groove greater more than semi-circular length arranged in 3. A universal joint, comprising a center planes at right angles to each other, and

two jaws each having an arc-shaped groove greater than a semi-circle to receive the reblock having two arc-shaped ribs of more than semi-circular form arranged inplanes at right angles to each other, and having a common center, two jaws each havlng an arc-shaped groove greater than a semi-circle to receive the respective disk and also having an oil chamber communicating with said groove, the bearing surfaces ofthe center block also having oil grooves and "passages to connect the opposing grooves in the" disks.

6. In a universal joint, jaws each adapted to be attached to a shaft, each jaw having an are shaped groove of more than a half circle in length, the axis of which groove is perpendicular to the aXis of rotation of the jaw, and a connecting member having are shaped ribs at right angles to each other and slidable one ineach groove, each of said ribs being of such angular extension that it is readily inserted into its respective groove when in one relative position and securely retained therein in any regular operative position of the parts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. RAYMOND PLANK.-

WVitnesses:

PALMER A J oNEs, LUTHER V. MOULTON. 

